Self-Finishing a Round Needlepoint Ornament: Supplies + Step-by-Step Guide

**step-by-step photo guide coming soon**

Finishing a round needlepoint ornament at home is so much easier than it looks — you just need the right supplies and a little patience! This guide is tailored specifically for round ornaments, with the tools and tips I personally use to get smooth edges, clean circles, and a polished, professional finish.

Supplies You'll Need to Finish a Round Ornament

• Blocking Board
  Helps your canvas dry evenly and stay perfectly flat before you start shaping.
• Stainless Steel Blocking Pins
  Pair with your blocking board to stretch your canvas into a smooth, round shape.
• Precision Craft Knife
  A sharp blade gives you clean circular cuts — especially helpful since scissors can make jagged edges.
• Acid-Free Foam Board (1/8" thick)
  Essential for giving your ornament structure. Round shapes stay cleaner and smoother with a firm base.
• Polyester Low Loft Batting (1/10" thick)
  Use to add a more filled out look
• Acid-Free Craft Glue
  My favorite for securing canvas edges, backing fabric, and trim. Dries clear and holds well around curves.
• Invisible Thread
  Keeps two sides of ornament together seamlessly and holds cording
• Sewing Clips
  Helps keep curved edges tight while the glue sets — a lifesaver for round shapes.
• Backing Fabric
  Velvet, linen, cotton — cut into a circle that mirrors the front. This makes the ornament feel finished on both sides. I get my fabric from Spoonflower (online) or Michael's (in-store)
• Threads for Making Your Own Cording
  Ideal if you want trim that perfectly matches your stitching colors. For cording, I recommend using DMC threads (I get mine from Michael's).
• Portable Cording Maker (Battery Powered)
  Twists leftover threads into custom cording to outline ornament. Round ornaments especially benefit from color-matched trim.
• Double-Sided Tape (Optional)
  Helps pre-shape curved edges before gluing — super helpful for circles.
  

Step-by-Step: How to Finish a Round Needlepoint Ornament

Here’s the exact process I use for round ornaments — from shaping the canvas to adding the final trim.

1. Block your canvas (optional but highly recommended).
   Pin your canvas into a smooth, round shape on your blocking board and let it stay for 1-12 hours. This will help get rid of any warping caused during stitching.
2. Trace and cut your batting and foam board circles.
   Use the stitched design as your guide, trace 2 circles onto foam board, and cut cleanly using a precision knife or circle cutter. Then cut 2 circles out of your batting fabric that are the same size as your foam board circles.A smooth circle = a clean finish.
3. Mount your canvas onto the foam board.
   Cut your design out of your canvas leaving 1-1.5 inches of blank canvas around the design. Cut out little triangles around the canvas to fold back. Center one batting circle on top of foam board. The, center the design over the batting and around foam board. Gently clip all the little tabs around the board curve. Stitch tabs securely to the back of your foam board.
4. Prepare your backing fabric.
   Cut a matching circle to the first on with your foam board. Cut a circle out of backing fabric, adding 1-1.5 more than your foam circle. Smooth fabric over the foam shape. Cut out little triangles to create tabs. Place other circle of batting over the other foam board, then place fabric (design side up) on the batting. Gently clip all the little tabs around the board curve. Stitch tabs securely to the back of your foam board.
5. Attach the backing.
   Gently clip all the little tabs around the board curve. Stitch tabs securely to the back of your foam board. make sure backing fabric is smooth over the foam board.
   
6. Sew two foam boards together.
   Then connect your foam board with your canvas and the foam board with the fabric. Put the sides with tabs secured facing each other to "sandwich" your two foam boards together. Using invisible thread, sew the two boards together forming one. Make sure to leave space to slide the end of your cording in!
7. Add trim or handmade cording.
   Option A: Pre-made trim — Apply a thin line of glue around the edge of the ornament and gently press the trim along the curve.
   Option B: Make your own — Use leftover threads and a handheld corder to twist custom trim that matches your stitching perfectly. This looks especially beautiful on round ornaments. *full cording tutorial coming soon*
8. Sew cording around ornament.
   Using invisible thread, secure your cording onto your ornament, tucking the tail of cording in the little space between foam boards we left earlier.

And that’s it! Once you finish your first round ornament, the whole process starts to feel surprisingly intuitive — and honestly, so satisfying.

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